Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Alexis Archer, High School Student from Armory Foundation
8:06:06
ยท
119 sec
Alexis Archer, a high school student representing the Armory Foundation, shares her positive experience with the Armory College Prep program and its impact on her mental health. She emphasizes how after-school programs like this can provide a sense of community and support for students.
- The Armory College Prep program surprised Alexis by being a warm and supportive community rather than just a serious academic program.
- Alexis credits the program for helping her through a period of depression, highlighting the personal attention and care she received.
- She advocates for the recognition of after-school programs as valuable resources that can serve as a "second home" for students, providing warmth, love, and genuine interest in their well-being.
High School Student
8:06:06
Okay.
8:06:07
Hi everyone, my name is Alexis Archer and I'm here representing the Armory Foundation and I just wanted to take some time to speak on mental health and how the Armory has helped me improve myself as a person.
8:06:20
I first had joined the Armory College Prep program in ninth grade, you know, little freshman.
8:06:25
I didn't know much at first from the outside.
8:06:28
It seemed like a very serious program, you know, they're talking about helping you through SATs, college, any homeworks that you have, just really talking about your future path.
8:06:39
So you would think it's something very serious, very strict, very let me sit down and really focus but really going through that program, I realized it was something different.
8:06:49
It was more of a community and a very warm space versus of what I had expected.
8:06:55
For example, last year, I'm not gonna lie, I had a really hard time.
8:06:59
I was very depressed.
8:07:00
I was walking around just sad, not smiling, that's not me at all and going to the armory, I had I thought it was just a program, like it's just something where let me go here, let me finish, let me do my work and then go home, but really the people there, they're very warming and helping.
8:07:16
They're not just they don't see you as just a number or someone who needs to be here to improve attendance percentages.
8:07:23
They see you as a real person and they're really there for you to help you and I see that with a lot of after school programs.
8:07:29
People are really quick to say negative things about after school.
8:07:33
Oh, I wanna go home after school.
8:07:35
I don't wanna do that.
8:07:36
But, really, it'll give you a sense of a second home almost because you're at school for so much time anyway.
8:07:43
So going to these after school programs, like, they'll really give you a sense of home and warmth and love.
8:07:49
They know your name.
8:07:50
They're curious about your life.
8:07:52
How was your day?
8:07:52
Is everything okay?
8:07:53
Things like that and I really appreciate that and I think that the armory itself and other after school programs should be recognized for that and I'll forever be appreciative.
8:08:03
Thank you.
8:08:04
Thank you very much.